The microwave spectrum of the OH X2Π radical in the ground and vibrationally-excited (ν ≤ 6) levels

Abstract

The microwave absorption spectrum of the OH X²Π radical has been observed in all vibrational levels up to ν = 6. Experimental details are described of the tunable cavity and parallel plate Stark-modulated spectrometers employed for transitions below and above 23 GHz, respectively. The observed line frequencies, together with those reported by other workers, have been fitted using a non-linear least-squares routine with numerical diagonalization of the Hamiltonian matrix. Pseudo high-order corrections for centrifugal distortion of the Λ-doubling are required for the ν = 0 data, which now extend to J = 19/2 in the ²Π_1/2 component. The various adjustable parameters of the Hamiltonian are compared with those of other similar models. The Λ-doubling and magnetic hyperfine constants for the different vibrational levels are reported, and several line frequencies of potential astrophysical significance are predicted.